An oration, delivered at the Baptist meeting-house in Colebrook, (Con.) on the national thanksgiving

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AN ORATION^i

DELIVERED AT THE

ha^jtist Meetlng-House in COLEBROOK, fCoitJ

On the National TlianJs.sgiving.

^ —

BY HENRY BLISS.

"5 The vame of Amehjcan^ ivhich belongs to you in your national
Capacity i must always exalt the juat firide oj" /latriotism."

Washington,
published at the request of the hearers. '

FELLO W- CITiZEJVS,

lY the Proclamation of the President qf the United
States, we are this day called to mingle our heartfelt emo-
tions of {gratitude and praise to the Almighty disposer of
events, for tlie glorious and honorable termination of the
war, and the auspicious return of peace to our beloved
country,, On this occasionj while we recognize the arm
of Jehovah, whicii in the eves of all the nations has again
been made bare in our behalf ; while we bov/ with grate-
ful reverence in the temple of America's God, to join m
the national chorus of joy and indulge the pride of Amer-
ican feeling, I trust will not be counted criminal.

The love of oui- country is a principle so strongly
mingled with the aflccticns of the human heart, that it be-
comes a matter of extreme difficulty for men to eradicate
Us inborn impressions ; it may, for a while, be smother-
ed by the hand of de^poviim, or be made to mi'3tal;e its

f:

object by the intriguing- arts of faction, but the sacred
flame can never be extinguished ; it is the gift of God j
the immortal fire kindled by the hand of an indulgent Cre-
ator, to become an active principle in the m_ore private
walks of life, or to glow in the national counsels, and blaze
out in glorious deeds in the crimson fields of war, for the
preservation of those rights and liberties so dear to man.

It is this which has inspired the Orato-'s eloquence,
the Statesman's study, and the Poet's song throughout all
5iges ! it is this which, independent of the v/ish for the
l^onors or emoluments of offices and distinctions, ought
to actuate every virtuous and noble mind ; for to feel cur
country's wrojigs^, to mourn over >ts calamities, and to re-
joice in its prosperity and happiness, are duties enjoined
upon us b}^ the common claims of society, as well as by
tHie more interested feelings of our nature. And if ever
there was a time since the establishment of our national
ejtistence, when the friends of their country had real'
Cause to rejoice, that time is now.

But befoi'e I proceed to that part of rny subject, Icf
mt turn back your attention, for a few moments, to years
and seasons past, when the protecting care of Heaven ov-
er our favored land was, as it has been now, in various
instances, so visibly manifested.

In the more unenlightened ages, when it was ♦■leem-'
cd criminal for men to worship the Deity contrar) io the
laws of the state, our forefathers had been cruelly treated
at home for the rights of conscience, and had left their
country for a refuge and an asylum in the lonely wilds of
North-America— ^they were the children in the woods, fed
by the indulgent hand of Heaven,- and protected from
danger and death, which menaced them in various- forms ;
from perils on the ocean and on the hud -^ from famine and
from the rage of wild beasts and the murderous vengeance
of more ferocious men. But they flourished, they mul-
tiplied, and their desccrrtlants soon spread over extensive
GoiOhies, v.JK?re their industry and enterprize smoothed
the roui;h and rniiG:cd scenes of nature, and made " the
■wilder; ':ss to rejoice and to blossom like the rose." — •
'J'luis, batinj; the delirium of their superstitious notions
and li'.e transient w;.Id-firc of their bi"otrv, thcv made
rap]d improvements, and were u virtuous ar/J happy pco

pic until the galling oppressions of their exactors and task,
masters from England compelled them at last to recognize
their in-born rights, and to rouse into action the waking
■energies of an injured and insulted nation. Almost des-
titute of every requisite for defence against the powerful
fleets and armies of Great-Britain, and opposed by inter-
nal enemies, no doubt many in this respectable assembly
well remember the distressing scenes, the clouds of fear-
ful darkness which so often overspread the land during
that arduous struggle for Liberty and Independence. But
you did not despair ; you felt that your all was at stake ;
y^a felt tkat you had a country ! even when you were
without a Government and without Laws. Your country
called ; its mandate was sacred ; you rallied to its stand-
ard ; you fought with various success ; for years you toil-
ed tiirough scenes of peril and through fields of blood,
while the dubious scale of war hung trembling with the
fate of unborn millions ! — But you finally conquered ;
you compelled the governmerit of Great-Britain to ac-
knowledge your Independence ; you beheld the giant
humbled at the feet of the stripling ! you established a
national government and a national character, and while
you received the plaudits of an admiring world, 50U heard
it proclaimed aloud throughout the land, and you no doubt
felt the truth of that important declaration, that the God
of Armies was on your side ! that with a strong arm and
a mighty hand He had enabled you to overcome your ene-
mies ; that He had conducted America through the dubi-
ous conflict, and given her a name and a high rank amon^
the nations of the earth.

Nor less was die Divine indulgence manifested to
us as a nation, when for a long season of uninterrupted
prosperity, and for more than thirty years of peace, a peace
scarce broken by the trumpet's sound, or disturbed by the
meteor flashes of war, while Europe was shaken to its
centre by perpetual contests and commotions, and the two
rival powers were seeking to embroil us in their conflicts ;
under the guardian care of Heaven we made a rapid prog-
ress in agricultural improvements, in the arts and in man-
ufactures— the sciences were cultivated — we increased in
wealth-^our trade flourished, our sails were on every sei^,
land our flag fluttered in every commercial port. But here
i am reluctantly compelled to point you to the darker
shades of the picture I — We had grown too proud and too,

4

2iiuch attached to the luxurious habits and fashions of Eu-
ropeans— we had too far departed from that dignified plain-
ness of KepubUcans, and in the pride for distinction and
the scramble for office, too many had departed from the
faith in our Republican institutions — as a nation our pride
and avarice had grown with our prosperity — we had run
into the follies of foreigners, and. had adopted, too. many
of their vices, and we deserved punishment.

England, whose vast maritime strength h^d in-
creased her arrogance, by an avaricious lust of wealth un-
restricted by the laws of nations or of national honor, liad
long been seeking to mdnopoHze the trade of the world i
she watched with a jealous eye our flourishing commerce •
she remembered the days of her humbled pride, and she'
jnarked us for her prey !— France, too, had done us es-
sential injury ; but England had not only captured and
condemned our ships and cargoes, but she had wantonly
imnressed, and was still impressing thousands of our na-
tive seamen. In vain we remonstrated ; in vain we sought
redress by negociation, by the most mild and pacific poli=
cy. The just complaints of paper blockades, British or-
4trs and French decrees, were loud and increasing — our
national character was suffering- — our wrongs were multi«
plying. On the part of Britain, impressment, outrage
and plunder were fast growing into an established system.
With a patience unexampled, and an unabatmg persever-
ance to obtain justice and evade the threatening storm,
"without any partiality, without any '' entangling aliiauce,''
*' without committing a single act it was unwilling the
whole world should look on and be witness to," our gov-
ernment struggled to rescue the drowning rights of the
nation until every just and reasonable measure proved ab-
prtive, until we had, indeed, been kicWd into a war.

At that time, it is a humiliating reflection, but it is
no less true, we had become, in the eyes of th^ Europe-
an nations, an insulted and degraded people— -ue were
looked upon as a nation of no spirit nor enterprize for ;my
thirej but monev ! Thev were astonished at that forbear-
since in our Government, which they mistook for pusilla-
r.iniity. We were, in short, almost so far degenerated in
th-:ir view, that in the language of the Prophet of old,
tht Isutions were fain " to go asidx to ask how we did."

If the hand of Napoleon was irj this War, if our
Government were under French Influence in this business,
I have never been so i'qrtunate as to iind any person v.'ho
has seen it with his own eyes, or who could tell mc \\iiere
it was to be seen — it is like die science of perpetual mo-
tion, much talked of, but has never } et been discovered.
It was certainly just and reasonable that our Government
should single out the enemy wh.ich had do.ie us the great-
est injury. At the commencement of the war, England,
though deeply involved in the European contest, was here
practising what she had long been before, her tyrant ails
to divide and coiiqiier. — It is, indeed, what cannot be dis-
puted, that she founded her most sanguine hopes of suc-
cess on our disunion ; she had her spies in the bosom of
our couiUry ; she found her v/armest advocates in New*
England. But it is with extreme reluctance that I am
compelled to lift the veil of political depravity ; it is in-
deed a superfluous task« Faction ht;s now so fully un-
masked its own projects, that it would be an insult oftercd
to reason and common sense to recapitulate what its ov;ii
extravagancip has so often and so publickly. exposed ; I
shall, therefore, be as brief as possible on this subject ;
neither shall I proceed to a tedioiiS narrative of the events
pf the war, they are generally knouTi — on the land they
were at firsi: disastrous and discouniging ; but on the O-
cean, the successful operations of the war were unexrim-
pled in the history of nations. But the great cliange in
the affairs of Europe at length gave to England an over-
whelming force of veteran troops, who were sent to re-
duce us to " unconditional submission." Gorpcd u-itli
power and inflated vrith ambition, she threatened every as-
sailable town on our sea-beard with rtiin and devastation„
The downfall of the Bonapartean dynas'y was received by
the opposition party, in many places in this country, v.iiii
the same triumphant exultation as it was in England, and
the jubilee that was celebrated on that occasion in some of
our capitals, considering the v/ell kno^vn issue of the e-
vent, was a novel circumstance in the history of r.ations — »
it was a most singular stretch of the unnational feelings of-
faction. When the v/ar was declared, it was n.o more^
than what v/as expected, that there would hir'e been rycYii^i,
opposition agairist rt ; but that there were men born on. A-
rrierican ground, and breathing the air ci F^i ctdom., who.
could publickly rejoice in the disastrous events pf th?ir.

country, and join the choral symphonies of old England,
was what ciuirity forbade us to believe.

I WOULD here observe, that I h:.te no man because
he does not thiiil: with me; but under the complicated
embarrassments of the nation, I know not which most to
admire, the successful progress iuid honorable conclusion
of thjE war, or the unexampled lenity and firmness of our
jmvernment. It was at first predicted that the war would
6e unpopular ; and I never heard of any prophets who la-
bored so hard to fulfil their own predictions. With sedi-
tion in the cal)inet and treason in the field — wih a pov/er-
ful faction in this section of the country — a faction steady
to its purpose — wrangling* with every measm^e of the Gov-
ernment, be it what it would — uniform in inconsistency,
and systematic only in opposition — threateninj^ a dismem-
berment of the Union, and seeking to establish its own
importance amidst the woes of Freedom and a nation's
blood — with a combination of these New- England States
to withhold their aid in meu and monev, and a most rldic-
idous queering and quibbling to evade the mear.mg of the
Constitution, at a time of the greatest j^eril, when ihe ex-
igencies of tlie nation demanded the united efibrts of ail
hearts and hands. With Vvhat kind of sounds were out
ears then saluted ? Was it the voice of patriotism or the
langnage o-f Americans, that resounded through our Eas-
tern borders ? No ; it was the loud ravings of opposi-
lion, the lugubrious moans of a wily faction.

The War! the wicked War ! ruinous, unneccssa-
ry and unjust, was responded from the pulpit and the
press — fi om tlie halls of legislation to the country bar-
room— -'pat; iotism was proscribed, and national feeling al-
most extinguished — the social affections of the humar*
heart seemed all gone over to the sic'.e of the enemy ;
M'hiie the tcnderest sympathies were excited, not for the
hoary headed parent nor the murdered son — not for the
mourning moth • nor the bleeding infant, the guildess
vicliras of Indiaii barbarity— not for these — but for the
murderers themse'ves, the savage v.-ieldcrs of the toma-
hawk and sca]j)ing-'.-nife ! reeking with the blood of our
'western frierids — with the blood of Americans ! Thes(?
^vere the characters for which even a Governor of one cjf
these Eastern States expressed an uncommon symjoathy
^nd regard I At that time, the President was abused—

ihc army ridiculed, and the recruiting business obstructed
and discouraged— the love of some seemed waxing cold —
they were almost ready to give up the Republic as lost— '
others were afiaid to vindieate the cause of their wronged
and bleeding, country.

BtJ'f were if not to exhibit some of the accumulated
embarrassments of the Govf^rnment and of the nation,
and to raii->c your gratituc/ '"o that Almighty Beiniv
whose arm has again sustained the righteous cause, and a-
inid surrounding foes and threatening dangers on every
side, has given us once more to rejoice in the salvation of
Our cdunfrjr and the auspicious return of peace. Were it
not for these considerations, I would gladly draw a veil o-
ver the features of that distorted era, and seal my lips in
perpetual silence on the subject. Man, I knovv, is the
(Creature of prejudice, and his habits are too much derived.
from local circumstances and accidentaT causes— this, no
doubt, is' the case with many of our welf- meaning, thougli
misguided fellow-citizens. But, that hberty is an ideal
tiling, and that patriotism may be always cured by the
honors and emoluments of offices and distinctions, is a
dogma which the feelings (5f all honest men ought to regret.

That war is a public calarriity, n6nc will deny. — -
The real philanthropist must ever deplore the dire necessi-
ty which compels man to lift tlic sword against his ftllcvv-
tnVin ; but in the present state of the v.orld, war, thoueh
sn evil, is sometimes to be expected, and is sometimes
necessary for the prevention of evils of longer duration^
That this war has been distressing m many places, is un-
doubtedly true ; but that those states which have felt itr*
distresses the least have complained the r/iost, is as true.
That there were miscalculations and mismanagements in tl le
former Secretary nt War, is what ! i>e\er clis];)uted — i)Ui
that the success of the general progress aiid closing events
of the war have far exceeded my expectations, from rriuclx
feUcction on the subject, I declare it to- be my sinceie o-
pinion. .

As a sirbject of the U. States and a citicien of Mas-
sacluLsetts, I have felt to lament the degeneracy of tht't:
once patriotic and honorable stale ; like a traveller conten; -
plating the ruins of Egypt or Palmyra, I have st;.fii!-f.<
broken columns of political mr-gninceuce — the shuiicieii

pyrsmids of human cnterprizc—^the once-proud monu^
rnents of Republican glory, nodding from their lofty sum-
mits or prostrate in the dust ! not from the mutilations of
time, but from the vandal assaults of faction. There the
cradle of patriotism has become its grave ! — there, with
some honorable exceptions, we have seen the spirit of tlie
devolution slumbering in the tombs of our ancestors or
yawning in tlie streets of her capital — -or we have witnes-
sed its transmigrated energies pleading in her legislative
halls fur the riAts of Britain ! There the Genius of Jn.
dependence has sighed its murmurs to the loiiely winds !
its vv-alis have been thrown down, and its altars polluted by
British priests and British spies, or deserted by an alm.ost
total apathy of national reeling and an abandonment and
conten\pt of the Coaititution and of our Republican insti-'
totions. At the very time oar government was charged
with French inHuence, the walls of her state-house res6un»
ded with the hig'n praises of old England. British justice,
Briiish mn.gnanimity and British religion were the general
cnlogios bestowed upon the enemies of our country. —
While the ark of the nation vras floating on the blood of
the brave citizens of New-Yqrk, Ohio, Kentucky and
Vermont, with many of her own patriotic bands from her
eastern borders, we beheld the Assembly of Massachu-
setts, amidst their othcj- preposterous acts, resolving that it
■cas unbecoming a moral and religious people to rejoice at
the victories o!.)tained over our enemies, while it vvas made
the discharge of a religious obligation to rejoice in the de-
'str-icticn of tlic enemies of England, when thousands of
Napoleon's troops were starved or frozen to death in the
icy climes of Russia. But this altered the case, for such
victories they could give public thanks to the Almigluy !
it was the cause of England that would be benefitted, it
1>-as'not the cause of our own counliy !

I K A v E here spoken of M a s s a c h u s e t t s more par=
ticuiariy, because she has done wliat Henry, licr British
prophet and spy foretold that F.he would do— she has giv-
en the tone to the New- England Statei;— she has taken the
V\\d againbt the Goveriiment of the United States — she
};as thrown all the weight she could into the scale of the
cr.fmv. But I have only to notice the last act of her po--
liticaldcpravitv. At the time ^\ hen the Government of
Great Bvitain made her high toned demands of the UniterJ

5>t\tcs as the price of an ignominious peace — at that mo'
mcntous crisis, wlien men of all parties spurned the de-
grading ternis, and New-England seemed almost ready to
shake off the night-mare of her political infatuation — -
\vhen the indignant fire of patriotism, began to kindle thro^
the land, and national feeling was rallying round the stan-
dard of union — then, in that unpropitious day to the drown-
ing hopes of faction, the disgraceful project of the Hart-
ford Convention was first juggled into existence. — -
The three-headed monster was born in Boston, but to
Hartford was reserved the honor of its first ludicrous
exhibition ! After the public mind had been so long float-
ing on the dark ocean of conjecture, and the eyes of the
nation were impatiently looking forward to catch a glimpse
at the unknown phenomenon, as men once gazed at com-
<^ts and eclipses, before they knew whether to look upon
them as ill-boding appearances, or harmless visitants— af-
ter religious meetings had been held in various parts of
New-England, and public prayers had been put up to
Heaven for success in what some believed a pious under-
taking I the Delegates themselves began the business, by
a solemn show of Fasting and Prayer ! It is a mortify-
ing reflection, to think any person of common understan-
ding, could believe those men sincere in their religious de-
votions. I may incut the censure of some, for this plain-
ness ; but I think the rule of judgment is plain— the gos-
pel teaches us that we shall know them by their fruits — ^.
*' men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles ;"
and however masked their designs may be, the veil is oft*
en so thin, that those who dare look may easily see what it
•Covers. Had the meeting of that Convention b'&eii for the
purpose of adopting measures for the real good of theif
countrv, at such a time of national dans^er and distress — >
to have depfecated the judgments of the Almighty, and
implored him to save otir bleeding land from foreign and
domestic foes, and restore to us again the blessings of
jDcace, union and prosperity— had such been the object of
their Fast, their actions, no doubt, would have been ap-
probated by Heaven, and the vvhole christian world might
h.ave fellowshipped their devotion,

O ! SACRED and divine Christianity ! source of everj^
blessing and light of everlasting life, given to guide man-
Hnd through the journey of time and lead them to the

10

Ibuntain of eternal love ! given to shev/ men the rfecp de-
pravity of their own hearts, and make them honest in their
actions to God and their fellow creatures. System of un-
shaken truth ! how often art thou perverted to serve the
the ambitious purposes of designing men ! how often are
thine altars profaned to gloss over the dark projects of fac-
tion or to give a solemn sanction to the vilest abominations?
of Kings and their authorized agents ! Men are not at all
times what they pretend to be. " Louis the XI, of France,
who, as Dr. Russel observes, lived in open violation of the
principles of moiiiiky, and whose life was a jumble of
crimes and contradictions, was the first who assumed and
received the title of Most Christian Majesty ! —
And Suwarrow, styled the Great Christian General ot her
Christian Majesty the Empress of Russia, before he en-
tered Warsaw, it is said he devoted a day to flisting and
prayer I and when he returned from finishing the horrid
work in the dismemberment of ill-fated Poland, he kept a
day of Thanksgiving, and in the temples of the Most
Higli God ordered the 7e Deum to be sung on the occa-
sion ! Such monstrous pictures of hypocrisy hav€ often
glared on the pages of history, and ii is enough to con-'
vince ui. that all is not Christianity which bears that sacred
3iame ; " for what is highly esteemed among men is often
an abontination in the sight of God." If such things are
abhorrent to the feelings of all virtuous and benevolent
minds— to the eyes of infinite purity, to him who searches
all hearts and sees through all the disguises of men, such
solemn mockeries must be the height of moral depravityo

As to the Hartford Convention there were many men
of intelligence of Federal politics who were opposed to it.
Some within the circle of my acquaintance, I speak it to-
their lionor, have spoken of it in high terms of disappro-
bation, for they viewed it in the same light which all can-
did and enlightened men must view it. Its doings thus
far have been made public and its objects are generally
known. It has past by like the idle winds and it is gen-
erally belie\ed will remam with the things xvhichiver'e, af-
ter leaving some thousand dollars for the states concerned
to pay, for the expence of their sitting, iind the ridiculous
misuion to Washington.

Had it net been for the merciful interposition of
Heaven in our behalf, instead of being privileged to as-

li

seirtbUt here to-day on this joyfully religious occasion, vvc
might have been sitting in sackloth lamenting the dire ef-
fects of a dismembered union — we might have been flying
to extinguish the flames of civil discord — or while the
plains of New- England were smoking with the blood of
her bravest sons, we might have been compelled to bow to
the dictates of a British army, while its licentious soldiery
were committing those outrages and abominations which
their brutal countersign promised them at Orleans. But
thanks be to -God, who in the midst of judgment has re-
membered mercy, for with a high hand and an outstretch-
ed arm hath he put down our enemies, and given us to re-
joice in the salvation of our dearest rights and liberties. —
The tempest of opposition has raged, but it has spent its
menacing fury — the east wind has blown, but the fruits of
the Revolution have not been blasted ! The tree of lib- '
crty was planted too deep to be blown down by the whirl-
winds of faction — -Americans have been sheltered under
its branches — they have long been regaled by its delicious
fruits — it will re-blossom on its native soil-— it Avill bring
forth its fruits in season, for their wisdom and valor will
defend it from the assaults of foreign and domestic ene-
mies. In this war we have seen their national character
supported by the most brilliant displays of liercism ! In
•the north, the victories on the Lakes, with those of Chip-
pev/a, Erie, Bridgewater, York and Plattsburgh, have
shed an imperishable lustre on the arms of the Republic,
and wreathed with unfading laurels the brows of her de-
fenders— they have hmnbled the ^iaughty spirit of our en~
cmies and convinced the world that America unpractised
in the trade of war — without allies and late witliout arn^.ies
or ofii&ers to command them, has been aiid still is able to
assert and defend her native rights against the most ]iO\vev^
ful nation in Europe. On tlie Ocean the trident seems to
have departed from the once-proud mistress of the waves !
There the strong arm of Jehovah has maintained the right-
fous cause— there the long-sleeping vegeance of insulted.
Americans has vanquished their astonished foes,_ an^
:,-tamped on their distiiiguished flag the broad seal of inde-
.pendence, which has retrieved their sufiering character and
commanded the respect of all nations, and will probably
supercede the necessitv of any other pledge for the future
conduct of our enemies. Should Engh\nd, however, mad
ly VAolatp her ftulh anvl hazard another cojitest, which frcjii

12

/he lesson she has already been taught, and from thr a^-^
pect of affairs in Europe, I think is not likely to take place
very soon, we shall be far better prepared to meet such an
emergency than we could possibly have been at the com-
mencement of this war.

But amid the blaze of military fame which lias shone
with so bright a lustre on the American arms, though the
defeat of the British at Baltiniore was an important dis-
play of patriotic bravery, the battle of New-Orleans,
whether we consider it as a demonstration of the most
consummate skill and heroism, or behold it hi a more reli-
gious light as a remarkable interposition of Divine Good-
ness, it knows np parallel in the history of modern ages.
For one I must ackno^vledge that w|ipn I read the official
account of that victor}^ when I found the vaunting con-
querors of Europe defeated in one instance, if npt more, by
one third their number of undisciplined piilitia, when I
considered the vast disparity of loss on the American sid^-,
I could not restrain my emotions of gratitude, I could not
help believing that God was on our side ! Well might
the illustrious Jackson exclaim, " Wonderful interposi-
tion of Heaven ! unexampled event in the history o[ war !
let us be grateful to the God of battles, who has directed
the arrows of indignation against our invaders, while He
covered with His protecting shield the brave defenders qf
pur country.';

Wh a t an implpasing contrast here recurs to my rec-
ollection, while the government of Massachusetts had en-
forced the principle of non-resistance and a small body of
British troops had been suffered to take quiet possession of
a considerable portion of the District of Maine, and all at-
tempts to repel the invaders had been directly or indirectly
opposed; vvqth feelings of proud admiration we have be-
held the brave mhabitants of the South and West rallviuir
to the standard of their country ; many of them \\'erc
found braving all obstacles on the long extended march,
some of five hundred and some of more than a thousand
Tniles. To m?et the invaders of their country— to guard
that Thermopylae pass, that key to the western world,
they flew to arms, and they gloriously achieved the object
of their enterprise- 7'hcir descendants will rejoice in the
deeds of their fathers ; and their children's ciiildren will
listen to the patriotic scnu-s whicii bhiill celebrate theit"

13

fame ! while the unprejudiced pen of ti.e historian will ex,
hibit the contrasted character of the East, and point fu-
ture generations to the place where rhe Laurels of the Rev-
olution have been left to wither on the soil which first pro-
duced then:i. But, I repress my feeiings — the war has
now closed, and it is to be hoped that the rage of oppo:>i-
tion will pass away like the dying murmurs of a retreating
fiU)rm, which ha=; blown over without doing the injury that
was expected. I say such a state of things is to be wish-
ed ; but from present appearances and past circumstances,
if the opposing spirit is not still heard to howl in the hol-
low v/inds of faction, I shall be much mistaken ; but its
rage will be more harmless.

But we are alreadv told that we have obtained a
peace without obtaining the objects we contended for ;
and consequently the peace is not honorable on our side.
I would Here observe, that the honorable or dishonorable
terms of a peace are best knovvn by the opinion of a third
party, who are wholly disinterested iu the business. \Vc
find the European nations asserting, that ^' it is a Peace
highly honorable to the United States"^ — we find the Kng-
liih themselves declaring, that " the peace with America
is a peace of necessity — that making it at that m.onient bcr
trayed, on the part of Britain, a deadlincas to the feelings
of honor, and a timidity of disposition, ar.d that they had
been compelled rather to kiss the rod than retaliate its ex-
ercises." Again the same Editor observes, " that the
British government have attempted to force their princi-
ples upon America, and have failed, and that they have
i-etired from the contest with the stripes yet bleeding on
their backs." Let it be observed, that this language is
pot from the opposition side, but from a high-toned gov-
ernment paper, published in London. I cannot well con-
ceive how the English could have expressed any thins;
■more flattering to the pride, or more lipr^orable to the char-
acter of Americans. The treaty of pe:^ce is founded on
reciprocal terms — thai a commercial treaty will fqilow
hereafter, ^\e have good reasons to believe. The orderi
m council had been repealed, though unknown to our gov--
crnment at the commencement of the war. The peace in
Europe had prevented the causes of impressment. On
(he news of hostilities existing between the tv.<3 nations,
?♦! the iuipressed Americans who could gave thcniseiveti

14

«p as prisoners of war. By the third article of the treaty,
*' all prisoners of war taken on either side, as well by land
as by sea, are to be restored." — " The doctrine that the
<;haracter of the mariner is derived from the flag has been
decided by her great civilian, Sir William Scott, and
conseqaendy acknowledged by England herself, however
she has former!}^ violated the principle." Respecting the
fisheries, our drying fish on the shores of the Labradore
was never considered as any thing more than a matter of
mere courtesy, and it is a well known fact, that but few
Americans ever went to that place to dry their fish — they
considered it then as t^ey do now, a matter of no essential
consequence. " As to the Calcutta trade, that was with-
held from us before the war ; we have certainly, then, not
lost it by the war."

" That England has been forced to depart from her
first arrogant demands" I think will not be disputed ; and
that she has acceded to the terms our government was wil-
ling to establish is likewise true- — and that the nation has
not betrayed its interests, nor the government its trust, all
candid and unprejudiced men will and must acknowledge.
Surely while the character of the President ranks so high,
in the opiiijon of other nations, he is well deserving the
confidence of his countrymen. He has not abandoned
our rights, he has saved, and honorably supported them.
If any man can believe that he entered into this war to en-
sure his election, I do not feel disposed to denounce him,
but I pity the weakness of his understanding. He could
iiot have acted so inconsistent a part — he could not have
hazarded his own honor and popularity in a matter of so
doubtful an issue and of so much importance to his coun-
jtry, for such an object, when he was under no necessity
iov such an alternative.

There was a time during the period of this war
wheri a dark cloud overspread our land, it seemed the aw-
ful presage of ap^^roaching ruin ! our country divided and
threatened with the tremendous vengeance of a civil war — ■
the national counsels distracted by opposite feelings — our
enemies, with augmented forces on every side, spreading
iheir vandal war along the shores of the Chesapeake and
other places — plundering private ])roperly — j)illaging and
burain^g defenceless villages— 'insuUing the living and ri:

is

fling even' the mansions of the dead ! while exulting in the
proffered reward of their disgraceful leaders, in th«5 tears
and shrieks of female innocence ! — Great God ! are there
Americans to be found who have advocated their cause,
who have palliated their crimes ? — Tell it not to our des-
cendants ! p-ublish it not to the ears of a reproaching world !
In that alarming period, when tlie ashes of the public ed-
jfices were smoking in the streets of the Capital, and the
taunting shouts of a degraded faction responded to the
vain-vaporing triumphs of Britain, and even apphauded a
deed which an uninterested world condemned I-^When
the genius of America sat mourning in solitude, and Lib-
erty stood weeping over her bleeding altars ! many of the
friends of their country were almost ready to despair of
the republic — but Heaven did not abandon our cause — the
brave defenders of their country's rights stood forth, re-
solved to conquer or to mingle their last blood with her
expiring liberties ! A gay beam of hope soon began t&
brighten through the gloom ! Victory on victory by sea
and land, the most brilliant and important, gave new en-
ergy to the government, and animation to the friends of
their country ; and at the moment of the greatest public
ti'iumph, when the mantle of Washington had descen-
ded on the illustrious JACKSoi^r, we received the joyful ti-
dings of Peace, and it was ratified by President Madi-
son ! Does this prove that he did not wish for Peace,- or
that EuQ-land would not make Peace during: his adniiniS"
traticn ? Or has this war proved that the peoj)!e are their
own worst enemies ? Has it proved that those State Gov-
ernments which have opposed the war so much, have been-
most saving of die people's money ? — I think not. It
has^ proved that Americans have discomfited their enemies
on every side ; that their well-tried valor has gained an ex-
alted name for their country ; and they Vv^ill assuredly reap
';he honor they deserve from all nations. But while wc
feel an honest pride in the martial fame of ou? country-'
men, there is one noble trait in their character, wliich de-
serves to be inscribed on walls of brass and pillars of mar-
ble— I mean their humanity. It has equaled their cour-
age— it has shone conspicuous over Britisli dishonor :'.mf
erucky — it has descended in showers of blessings on their
prisoners— =-it has spread the broad mantle of mercy, to*
comfort and relieve their fallen enemies ! •»\ hose contrast-
ed deeds will be a lasting reproach to the Kriti.sli cliaraclcr-

16

T"E ^Anicjicans h&ve captr.red, during this war, more than fifv
teen i)U!icIrcd oi" the enemy's merchant ships, besides three frigates
atid two whole squadrons on the Lakes, with inany other vessels of
war — while tiic capnsres of the enemy have been but few in compar-
ison. Tlicy have already liberated Irom thf prison ships in one sin-
jifle port in Enc^Iand, more tha7i tiuo ihounand im/iresn' d Jmcrica7i>i !
Let no man despair of the Republic ; this war has given ii more sta-
bility and strength than a thirty year's peace couid have don- in the
situation il wab in !:cfore it commenced. It is tiic world's (ibt Itope
of liberty ! the fast anchored land of a. nation's, rights I.Itbas stood
tlie test — it has been tried as by hre ! Like a rock in tlic Oc<-an, it^
has braved tl)C dasliing of the nations and the bowlings of tiic angry
•itorm I But Hf. who once spake to the raging seas, has commar.JuJ
PEACE, and the billows of war and the winds of faction nave obey-
cci Iii:>! i The clouds which spread over our land are dispersed — ;
thedaikness has kindled iiito day, and the tempest of v.ar has sub-
sided into the delightful calms of peace. We have now a Aiir pros-
pect before us of a Nourishing and happy era— our trade will again
revise — our saHs are already s\vel!ing to the winds of every sea —
they will bear the rich products of our country abroad-— ^they will re-
turn every article \vc shall need-^our flag will commaiul re: pect>
9v\^\. the brave character of our seamen will be their best protection — -
while the arts at home will revive, and our manufactures flourisli
and increase. With such prospects beforu us, who docs not exult in
the beams of peace ; who does not rejoice that tho mountains of
freedom have appeared in this western world ? that the dove with
the olive has returned to its native ark ! Who does not feel an hot)-
est pride that he is an American ? And who, let rne ask, does ncc
feel to acknov/led;,-c that the arm of the Almighty has been ou-
salvation ? that Heaven has hitherto distinguished our land fur lli".
peculiar displays of its goodness, and for the last abode of persecuted
liberty ! And, though after so long a season of peace, we have a~
s^ain'been suffered to feel the common calamities of war, let us re-
r.icmber, that as a nation, we liavc often deserved the judgments of
tlie AlmigiUy. While otiter nations were suffering the complicated
distresses of war and fannne, and Europe seemed a slaughter-!. onse
fu'.' ti>e destruction of munkind, we, blest with peace and sunouuded
M'iih plenty, what was our sense of gratitude ? We murmured ?.t
tho gi;fts cf pescc — wc complained because we were too fuli-fed —
•tvc found fiiult 'with our rulers without any just grounds — we regret-
ted the blcssiiig of liberty — wc cuiogi^.ed tyrants — -and many sulfer-
€U thtir avarice to duteat l!^e measures of the best (iovernmcnt on
earth, aiul were i-cady to saciiTicc tlicir country for the pride of offics
Cr the last of grjn. Such were our transgrersions ; and we hav3
iiv.x. the chastis'jmcnts of tiie Almighty in a just and necessary war,'
L-ct us now r'*ioioe that He has given us no longpr to hear the sound
Oi the trum;;ct, nor sec the ijarmtnt rolled in blood ! For thiotigh
Ihc clouiLs ol ills jiuigMnent Lis mercy has beamed v/ith a resplcn-
clcnt lustre — o'jr country is slaved and our liberties secure-.

To Hi5i, whose Omnipotrnl arm poises the scale of Empires
ni'l guh.ics tlie destinies i-S nations — who puts down and builds up at
Htr> plv:>su;t:~ to His NAr-iK be all the Praise.

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